Tuesday, January 21, 2014

Coppa Italia Quarterfinals • Milan vs. Udinese: Destination Europe

Tomorrow’s Coppa Italia match vs. Udinese wouldn’t mean too
much in a normal season, but this is no normal season. Instead, each Coppa
match must be considered do or die, as winning the whole thing could be our
only ticket to European competition next year. Which I’m not even sure we want,
with the extra matches and potential for fatigue and injury. But Milan are
Europe, it’s in our DNA. And even if it is basically impossible to reach the Champions
League next season, where we belong, it seems wrong to want anything less than
the highest that we can achieve. After all, we’re the sole Italian team left
for the knockout stages of the Champions League this season, it would be tragic
not to follow the other “top teams” in Serie A.

That patch could be our ticket to Europe next season

Udinese are having a season that is almost as bad as ours.
And despite having knocked Inter out of the Coppa Italia for us with a single
goal from Maicosuel, they could really use the boost that winning tomorrow
would provide them, too, even if they are much less likely to compete in the
following rounds. Earlier in the season, when they were in better form and we
were in worse form, we managed to defeat them with a goal from Birsa at the San
Siro, so I am hopeful that having home advantage and a new manager will give us
the boost to send us through to the semifinals, where either Siena or
Fiorentina will be waiting for us in two weeks.

After knocking Inter out two weeks ago, Udinese suffered two
painful defeats in the league. A terrible 3-0 loss at the hands of a revived
Sampdoria, then a painful 3-2 loss on Sunday to 10 men Lazio, who came from
behind twice to take all three points (with the help of a Lazzari own goal.)
Guidolin lined up Brkic; Danilo, Domizzi, Heurtaux; Badu, Basta, Santos,
Pereyra, Pinzi; Di Natale, and Maicosuel. As far as I know, Guidolin will have
a full squad available to him outside of backup keeper Benussi, who is still
out with a long-term injury. But even with a full squad, Udinese have been struggling,
even if they fight with heart in every match.

Oh, yeah, still feelin' the love

Seedorf, on the other hand is still missing El Shaarawy,
Amelia, Constant, Saponara, Abate, and now Bonera for this matchup. Abate is
back training with the group, but is not expected to return to the squad until
Sunday. This is also the one competition Muntari is currently available for, so
it will be interesting to see if he is called up or perhaps even starts. With
all of the new hugs and smiles going around, it may not matter as much who is
in the starting 11. Seedorf’s team is powered by heart. (Now let’s hope that
their fitness and talents will back up the heart.)

Most everyone concedes that this season is a wash, and that
this six months is a chance for Seedorf to find his footing and see what he can
get this squad to do under his watch. But Seedorf wants to create a “new
winning cycle,” so I expect everyone to give it everything they’ve got.
With a growing wave of confidence and two wins in two games post-Allegri, the
Coppa Italia semifinals may be just within our reach. With 100% effort and
heart (and maybe a little luck,) we will be 90 minutes closer to Destination
Europe.